Amino Acids Influence Protein Behavior
The third important characteristic of amino
acids is that they have a variety of chemical
natures, and these influence the structure and
behavior of the protein they’re a part of. Some
amino acids have portions resembling water
and can form hydrogen bonds with other
molecules, including water. Some have short
carbon chains or carbon rings that resemble
fats, and can form van der Waals bonds with
other similar molecules. And some, especially
those that include a sulfur atom, are especially
reactive, and can form strong covalent bonds
with other molecules, including other sulfur-
containing amino acids. This means that a
single protein has many different chemical
environments along its chain: parts that attract
water molecules, parts that avoid water
molecules, and parts that are ready to form
strong bonds with similar parts on other
proteins, or on other parts of the same protein.
Protein Structure